Hi all, booked online to get my tracking done at my local Nationwide Autocentre branch this friday, got a booking ref etc, anyway decided to call them afew mins ago to just confirm everything, at which point the guy on the phone said he had been trying to call me ( I hadn't even said who I was at this point! ) to ask what the problem is, I said "i think the trackings out" "why?" he asks, "because the steering feels abit weird, and I've been over afew pot holes" I say, he replies "oh, if thats the case, you will need to go somewhere else as we can only track the 2 front wheels, you will need 4 wheel tracking".

I'm a bit baffled, I know the difference between 2 & 4 wheel alignment, ( 4 is better I believe) but why turn me away and say they cant help, getting just the 2 front tracked would be better than nothing at all, and money in their pocket? really don't get it?

They were offering a a discount when booking online, 25 reduced from 40, do you think they just didn't wana honor the appointment because of the online discount??

I think that on a Coupe you can adjust just the front wheels, the rear ones have "fixed" geometry due to trailing arms suspension... right?

Yep thats right, but 4 wheel tracking is still more accurate as the front wheels are tracked and lined up with the rears, it doesn't actually mean they have to adjust the rears.....(someone please correct me if i'm wrong?!)

Rich, just been through this myself, you can only do the front on the coop, save yourself some cash and just get the front done as there's nothing they can do with the rear wheels, just charge you for the pleasure.

The rears will not be the same as each other Rich, they can be all over the place. Not even sure who out of our trusted garages could sort it out for you.

I'm sure there is an adjustment that can be made at the rear - not camber but possibly toe or caster. Anyway, Supertyres in Maldon, Essex do a complete laser allignment all round for £35. I know that's nowhere near you but they may possibly be a nationwide franchise...

There's no rear wheel adjustment on a coupe unfortunately.

I was shown how to tell if your wheels out out of alignment, you have to stroke the tyre from front to back. The surface should be a smooth as fur, any roughness is a sure sign that the wheel needs adjustment.
You will look like a tyre perv if the neighbours see you but hey hoe, add it to the list

Are you sure someone wasn't having a bit of fun with you Shifty?

More than likely Mrs L, but i wouldn't hold it against the guy who did it. He used to fix my old bmw, he used to take so much care that it was like the car was his own.